The flux pinning force and vortex phase diagram of single crystal FeTe0.60Se0.40

The flux pinning force density (Fp) of the single crystalline FeTe0.60Se0.40 superconductor has been calculated from the magnetization measurements. The normalized Fp versus h (=H/Hirr) curves are scaled using the Dew-Hughes formula to underline the pinning mechanism in the compound. The obtained values of pinning parameters p and q indicate the vortex pinning by the mixing of the surface and the point core pinning of the normal centers. The vortex phase diagram has also been drawn for the first time for the FeTe0.60Se0.40, which has very high values of critical current density Jc ~ 1.10(5) Amp/cm2 and the upper critical field Hc2(0) = 65T, with a reasonably high transition temperature Tc =14.5K.Comment: 12 pages, 4 figure

Bulk dynamics for interfacial growth models

We study the influence of the bulk dynamics of a growing cluster of particles on the properties of its interface. First, we define a {\it general bulk growth model} by means of a continuum Master equation for the evolution of the bulk density field. This general model just considers arbitrary addition of particles (though it can be easily generalized to consider substraction) with no other physical restriction. The corresponding Langevin equation for this bulk density field is derived where the influence of the bulk dynamics is explicitly shown. Finally, when it is assumed a well-defined interface for the growing cluster, the Langevin equation for the height field of this interface for some particular bulk dynamics is written. In particular, we obtain the celebrated Kardar-Parisi-Zhang (KPZ) equation. A Monte Carlo simulation illustrates the theoretical results.Comment: 6 pages, 2 figure

Field tests on a grease trap effluent filter

This study investigates the field performance tests of a commercial grease trap effluent filter for removal of total suspended solids, and oil and grease discharged from the clear zone of full service restaurant grease traps. The grease trap effluent filters were installed on 1,000-gallon, 2,000-gallon and 5,400-gallon full service restaurant grease traps over a period of 8 weeks, and samples were taken at the inlets and outlets. On average, the effluent filters demonstrated to be capable of removing 41% to 57% of TSS, and 43% to 52% of O and G. Field test data also showed that the total amount of TSS removed by the grease trap effluent filter installed on 1,000 gallon, 2,000 gallon and 5,400 gallon grease traps were approximately 2,542 kg, 709 kg, and 2,319 kg, respectively; and the total amount of O and G removed over the same period were approximately 1,104 kg, 271 kg, and 897 kg, respectivel

Signatures of small-world and scale-free properties in large computer programs

A large computer program is typically divided into many hundreds or even thousands of smaller units, whose logical connections define a network in a natural way. This network reflects the internal structure of the program, and defines the ``information flow'' within the program. We show that, (1) due to its growth in time this network displays a scale-free feature in that the probability of the number of links at a node obeys a power-law distribution, and (2) as a result of performance optimization of the program the network has a small-world structure. We believe that these features are generic for large computer programs. Our work extends the previous studies on growing networks, which have mostly been for physical networks, to the domain of computer software.Comment: 4 pages, 1 figure, to appear in Phys. Rev.

Study of self-alignment of μBGA packages

In this paper, a detailed study of the self-alignment of BGA packages is presented. Complete self-alignment can be achieved even for a misalignment of the package of larger than 50% off the test board pad centres. A small residual displacement of the package from perfect alignment after reflow is observed. The reason for this displacement is the action of gas flow viscous drag on the package during reflow. The use of eutectic SnPb solder paste slightly reduces self-aligning ability, due to the increase in the solder volume, which reduces the restoring force. Exposure of the solder paste to a 25 C and 85% RH humidity environment also has a detrimental effect on the self-alignment of the BGA package, due to solvent evaporation and moisture absorption in the paste causing solderability degradation. The self-alignment of the package is also affected when there is slow spreading of molten solder on the pad surface. This is attributed to the reduction of restoring force due to the decrease in effective wetting surface area of the board pad

Parton model versus color dipole formulation of the Drell-Yan process

In the kinematical region where the center of mass energy is much larger than all other scales, the Drell-Yan process can be formulated in the target rest frame in terms of the same color dipole cross section as low Bjorken-x deep inelastic scattering. Since the mechanisms for heavy dilepton production appear very different in the dipole approach and in the conventional parton model, one may wonder whether these two formulations really represent the same physics. We perform a comparison of numerical calculations in the color dipole approach with calculations in the next-to-leading order parton model. For proton-proton scattering, the results are very similar at low x_2 from fixed target to RHIC energies, confirming the close connection between these two very different approaches. We also compare the transverse momentum distributions of Drell-Yan dileptons predicted in both formulations. The range of applicability of the dipole formulation and the impact of future Drell-Yan data from RHIC for determining the color dipole cross section are discussed. A detailed derivation of the dipole formulation of the Drell-Yan process is also included.Comment: 20 pages, 5 figure

PSD95 and nNOS interaction as a novel molecular target to modulate conditioned fear: relevance to PTSD

Stimulation of N-methyl-D-aspartic acid receptors (NMDARs) and the resulting increase of nitric oxide (NO) production are critical for fear memory formation. Following NMDAR activation, efficient production of NO requires linking the 95 kDa postsynaptic density protein (PSD95), a scaffolding protein to neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS). A variety of previously studied NMDAR antagonists and NOS inhibitors can disrupt fear conditioning, but they also affect many other CNS functions such as motor activity, anxiety, and learning. We hypothesized that disrupting nNOS and PSD95 interaction in the amygdala, a critical site for fear memory formation, will reduce conditioned fear. Our results show that systemic treatment with ZL006, a compound that disrupts PSD95/nNOS binding, attenuates fear memory compared to its inactive isomer ZL007. Co-immunoprecipitation after fear conditioning showed a robust increase in the amygdala PSD95/nNOS binding, which was blocked by systemic pre-administration of ZL006. Treatment of amygdala slices with ZL006 also impaired long-term potentiation (LTP), a cellular signature of synaptic plasticity. Direct intra-amygdala infusion of ZL006 also attenuated conditioned fear. Finally, unlike NMDAR antagonist MK-801, ZL006 does not affect locomotion, social interaction, object recognition memory, and spatial memory. These findings support the hypothesis that disrupting the PSD95/nNOS interaction downstream of NMDARs selectively reduces fear memory, and highlights PSD95/nNOS interaction as a novel target for fear-related disorders, such as posttraumatic stress disorder

Chlamydia trachomatis prevalence and chlamydial/ HPV co-infection among HPV-unvaccinated young italian females with normal cytology

Infections caused by Chlamydia trachomatis (Ct) and human papillomavirus (HPV) are the two main sexually transmitted infections; however, epidemiological data on Ct prevalence and Ct/HPV co-infection in Italy are scant. This study aimed at estimating the prevalence of Ct infection and Ct/HPV co-infection in young HPV-unvaccinated females with normal cytology, and placed particular attention on the possible association between Ct-DNA positivity and different HPV infecting genotypes. Five hundred 66 healthy females aged 16-26 years without cervical lesions, previously assessed for HPV infection (HPV-DNA prevalence: 18.2%), were tested for Ct-DNA. The overall prevalence of Ct was 5.8% (95% CI: 4.2-8.1), while Ct/HPV co-infection was recorded in 2.7% (95% CI: 1.6-4.3) of subjects. Compared with HPV-DNA-negative females, HPV-DNA positive subjects had significantly (P < 0.001) higher odds of being infected with Ct (odds ratio of 4.20, 95% CI: 2.01-8.71). Both Ct and Ct/HPV infections were much more prevalent in under 18-year-olds than in older women. Subjects positive for single high-risk HPV genotypes and various multiple HPV infections had higher odds of being Ct-DNA positive. Our findings confirm that HPV and Ct infections are very common among asymptomatic young Italian females. This underlines the urgent need for nationwide Ct screening programs and reinforcement of sexual health education, which would be the most important public health strategies, since no Ct vaccines are currently available

Flood-Flow Characteristics Of Equatorial Natural Rivers In Sarawak, Malaysia

A study on two natural rivers during flood events located in the outskirt of Kuching city, Sarawak is carried out. This paper presents the results obtained from the field measurements, including velocity distributions, stage discharge relationships, roughness behaviours and discharge estimation. These have illustrated a large difference in velocity between the main channel and floodplain under flood conditions, and the effects of momentum transfer between deep and shallow flow, which include reduction in main channel velocity and discharge capacity, leading to a reduction in compound section capacity at depth above bankfull. Another significant characteristic for flow in natural rivers is that the floodplain regions are found to behave as a storage reservoir instead of conveying excess water. Flow resistance relationships have been presented in terms of Manning’s coefficient and Darcy-Weisbach friction factor, showing the complex nature of flow resistance in flooded natural rivers and further explaining the danger inherent in the conventional practices of extrapolating inbank data for the analysis of overbank flows. Results for discharge estimation have been shown for comparison with actual data, the errors incurred by applying empirical methods to compound channel flows have been quantified and found to depend on the particular method used

Influenza Vaccination in Italian Healthcare Workers (2018-2019 Season): Strengths and Weaknesses. Results of a Cohort Study in Two Large Italian Hospitals

Background: Annual vaccination is the most effective way to combat influenza. As influenza viruses evolve, seasonal vaccines are updated annually. Within the European project Development of Robust and Innovative Vaccine Effectiveness (DRIVE), a cohort study involving Italian healthcare workers (HCWs) was carried out during the 2018-2019 season. Two aims were defined: to measure influenza vaccine effectiveness (IVE) against laboratory-confirmed influenza cases and to conduct an awareness-raising campaign to increase vaccination coverage. Methods: Each subject enrolled was followed up from enrollment to the end of the study. Each HCW who developed ILI was swabbed for laboratory confirmation of influenza. Influenza viruses were identified by molecular assays. A Cox regression analysis, crude and adjusted for confounding variables, was performed to estimate the IVE. Results: Among the 4483 HCWs enrolled, vaccination coverage was 32.5%, and 308 ILI cases were collected: 23.4% were positive for influenza (54.2% A(H1N1) pdm09; 45.8% A(H3N2)). No influenza B viruses were detected. No overall IVE was observed. Analyzing the subtypes of influenza A viruses, the IVE was estimated as 45% (95% CI: -59 to 81) for A(H1N1) pdm09. Conclusions: Vaccination coverage among HCWs increased. Study difficulties and the circulation of drifted variants of A(H3N2) could partly explain the observed IVE